The much-anticipated California recall debate is over. Although
the media punditocracy were divided about which candidate to
proclaim as winner, Jacks and Jills in the Golden State had no
problem. The majority picked Arnold.

The poll indicates that most folks care less about policy
wonking and more about charisma, leadership and just plain talk.

The day after the debate, Arnold won something else ­
the triple crown of endorsements. Big name Republicans Darrell
Issa, Bill Simon and Bill Jones all signed on.

In addition, Peter Ueberroth is said to be poised to add his
name to the Schwarzenegger list. And 58 California Republican
county chairmen voted to endorse Arnold. Now that's the kind
of political momentum a candidate would give his or her bleached
teeth for.

The Republican Party faithful, though, do find themselves
split into two familiar camps. McClintock supporters who compose
one group see the 20-year veteran as the only acceptable candidate
in the race. Schwarzenegger supporters, who make up the other
group, see the election as a choice between either Arnold or
Bustamante, and if forced to pick, they'll choose Arnold every
time. So it's déjà Perot all over again.

Meanwhile the Davis and Bustamante forces see an opportunity.
Art Torres has been enticing Republicans to vote for McClintock.

We heard Arianna Huffington praise McClintock, whose positions
she loathes, and attack Arnold, whose positions she toasted before
Al Franken took over her body. Her best bud lib Bill Maher had
McClintock on his HBO show and treated him as if he were Bubba's
twin brother.

Even casino-owning Americans have been dropping silver dollars
into McClintock's slots. Something is terribly wrong with the
lefty picture when everyone from Wolf Blitzer to Alan Combs heaps
praise on a true blue conservative.

Although the idea of Republicans living in a divided house
is appealing to Dems, some signs of unity on the part of Republicans
are beginning to take shape.

McClintock took to the airwaves the day after the debate to
reiterate that he's in the race to stay, but he's in an ever-growing
political predicament. If he drops out, his conservative base
will feel betrayed. If he stays in and Bustamante wins, the Republican
establishment will blame him and that will effectively deep-six
his political career.

Unless McClintock experiences a major surge in the polls and
leapfrogs past Arnold, his best option is to come to some sort
of unity arrangement and grab a sweet role in a Schwarzenegger
administration.

Hey, it could happen. When I attended the California Republican
Convention, informal communications between the McClintock and
Schwarzenegger campaigns were virtually continuous. And McClintock
and Arnold were very respectful to each other at the debate.

At his press conference right after the debate, Arnold was
asked for his thoughts on McClintock. "I think he's a terrific
guy," Schwarzenegger said. "We would make a great team
in Sacramento."

As it stands now, I see the recall endgame concluding in one
of two ways ­ California will have a revitalized GOP, a Republican
governor and a stand-up Senate candidate who'll toss Barbara
Boxer out of the ring, or it will have a continuation of one-party
rule, the loss of two viable candidates and the biggest post-election
bellyache in its history.